I know we've talked about a ton of guys who have provided to the resurgence (Brewer, Hodges, Ford, Williams, McKenzie), but I wanna give a shoutout to Derek Di Nardo for really stepping his game up this year. He's flat out flying all over the place. Being in the right spot at the right time. Making key plays (no pun intended). I had banked on Van Dyke being the WHIP but if Di Nardo can continue to play like this, it might not make a difference. Add him with Williams and Clarke and our LB's are looking super strong on an already loaded defense. Keep it up young buck!!!
Forums:
DISCLAIMER: Forum topics may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.
Comments
I commented to a buddy of mine that at this point, it's a lot like Facyson and Exum last year. Yeah, you want Van Dyke back, but at the same time, you really wouldn't want to bench DiNardo.
I have known Derek since he was a small kid, he has worked hard to get to this point and has made it a personal challenge for himself to show the coaches he deserves to be playing. His hardwork is paying off now, and I could not be happier for him and his family.
good post. with that i shall bestow upon you your 1,500th turkey leg. Welcome to the club! (I just joined today too)
Bruce Smith gave him a stamp of approval during the Bill & Mary game. Good enough for me.
Can't argue with results he produced on Saturday. Well done, young man.
Also Woody Baron and Nigel Williams. Both those guys don't get near enough credit. They were very solid last year too.
He's a redshirt senior, so not "young" on the term of college football players. And he's definately not a buck after how he played Saturday! :)
I just remember him being all over the field in high school and now he is doing that for the Hokies!
I watched him intently in HS - easily 25 times. I remember when he was asked to walk on,
and thought that we were really lucky to get him. And I posted on another site that we could very well be seeing our next Cody Grimm. So many similarities.
I have watched a ton of HS football...Guys long ago like Charley Garner, more current NOVA stars like Eddie Royal, and the Glennon QB's, to everybody in VB from '95 to '12 or so like Humes, Fayton, Parham at PA in the 90's, Justin Hunter, Deveon Simmons, EJ Manual...the list is endless.
Out of all of those great players that I have seen, Percy Harvin, Eric Seivers, DJ Dinardo, and Deangelo Hall are my top 4 off the (top off my head) that were literal "put the team on my back"/"one man show" guys that I have seen. I can't say enough about DJ...disappointed a bit that he hasn't had a bigger role, but happy he has shined when he has gotten his chances. The guy is not going to overpower you or outrun you at the D-1 level, but he sees the big picture and is going to be in the right place at the right time making plays.
I know we're busy coming up with a nickname for Michael Brewer, but what about The 'Nard Dog for Dinardo?